Ogburn Family

The first record of Symon Ogburn in America appears when he was brought into VA by a Thomas Steevens, September, 1652. Steevens was awarded 1400 acres of land for bringing 28 people to Virginia, among them Symon Ogburn. Symon Ogburn died 1668, Isle of Wight County, VA. His will was proven February 9, 1669 and he names his second wife, Lucie, and his children from two marriages.

Seventh Generation

Home of James Edward and Sarah Ogburn, courtesy of Jack Ogburn

James E. Ogburn became the first pioneer tobacco manufacturer in Forsyth Co, NC. James and his five sons raised, cured, stemmed and twisted his own tobacco into his popular "pigtail twists" and sold to the retail merchants in Old Salem and Forsyth/Stokes Counties. James brought the first tobacco press into Forsyth Co - it was operated with a wooden screw for making plug tobacco. From 1855, some 10 to 20 thousand pounds of solid plug was produced each year until the Civil War began. Two of James' sons operated tobacco companies: Sihon A. Ogburn operated the S. A. Ogburn Tobacco Co and Charles Jackson Ogburn operated, in partnership with W. P. Hill, the Ogburn and Hill Tobacco Company. The Ogburn and Hill Tobacco Company had one five story-building and two three-story factories. On August 23, 1912 a fire destroyed part of the plant. Charles decided to retire and he and his cousin and partner, W. P. Hill, sold the company on September 19, 1912 to R. J. Reynolds.